Guests with food limitations

kmjarvey

Are you doing anything special for guests who are vegetarians or allergic to gluten? We're doing a buffet with chicken, pasta, rice, bread, and salad so I think everyone would have something to eat but not a lot. Did you talk to your caterer about making a few plates for those with diet restrictions? I know of a few certain guests that are but don't really have a way find out for everyone.

opalsky007

Yes, we had a vegetarian entree. None of our guests had a gluten allergy, but we would have made arrangements with our caterer if we did.

If you're doing a buffet, just make sure everyone has at least one good option for an entree. No one likes being stuck eating salad.

StephHalm

I have a cousin who is gluten free (she can't have it). We are doing ham and chicken, but both have a glaze. The cousin is about 12, so I am having them keep a few slices of ham for her without the glaze. My caterer was awesome about it. I say just ask!

akhensley81

I am a "special diet" person... I have several very severe food allergies and several sensitivities, as well. For me, I have learned that in situations like weddings, I need to take the initiative and be pro active. (i.e., talking to the bride ahead of time or flagging down a server at the reception if I have a question.) If someone has a problem, they will do what they have to do to protect themselves. And they're likely very used to it.

Edit: And as far as vegetarians, it sounds like you have that covered.

TurtlesAllTheWayDown

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_guests-food-limitations?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:9Discussion:5eb02c31-fa81-4f78-9e87-8fa93a16e70cPost:db52024c-f5ad-4f10-8ce0-91955f451088">Re: Guests with food limitations</a>:
[QUOTE]I am a "special diet" person... I have several very severe food allergies and several sensitivities, as well. For me, I have learned that in situations like weddings, I need to take the initiative and be pro active. (i.e., talking to the bride ahead of time or flagging down a server at the reception if I have a question.) If someone has a problem, they will do what they have to do to protect themselves. And they're likely very used to it. Edit: And as far as vegetarians, it sounds like you have that covered. :)
Posted by akhensley81[/QUOTE]

This. I'm a vegetarian and I just deal when I'm at a wedding. If I need to grab a  snack after, I will.

But I'll be able to eat everything at my wedding, so there's that.

kmjarvey

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_etiquette_guests-food-limitations?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding BoardsForum:9Discussion:5eb02c31-fa81-4f78-9e87-8fa93a16e70cPost:280eb78f-e252-4848-9679-836dd1d612e6">Re: Guests with food limitations</a>:
[QUOTE]We are going to put 'please list dietary restrictions/allergies on the reverse" on our RSVP card.   I know we'll have at least one vegetarian, not sure about others. We know we will have one person with a gluten allergy so the venue is making her a special plate.
Posted by ILoveMilkDuds[/QUOTE]

I wish I would have thought to do this! I know a few with gluten allergies but am worried about what some who might be that I don't know about will think if they don't get a special plate.

Knittibell

I have a lot of food restrictions, and I honestly don't expect anyone to cater especially to me. When possible I eat before anything I go to, and honestly, even with Crohn's disease (no fruits/vegetables/seeds/skins/red meat/whole grains/fiber) and being allergic to fish and shellfish, there is always SOMETHING I can eat!

akhensley81

Haha knitti you and I are in the same boat!! I have diverticulitis... they thought it was Crohn's for a while. And fish, and shellfish, and nuts, and apparently some forms of mushrooms (just learned that one recently).

kaesha

We had a ton of food limitations at our wedding, so we had to have a buffet too. Truthfully, I made a chart and made sure that next to everyone's name, there were two main dishes (out of a possible 4), 3 sides (out of a possible 5) and one dessert (out of two) that each could have. I know, overkill... but we had a DW and I couldn't bear the thought of our guests having to fill up on granola bars after flying thousands of miles to come celebrate with us.

ehathewa

Talk with your vendor. 

Our vendor will alter the meals (w/o charge) if it is for a dietary resctriction like gluten, vegan, or allergies. 

tenofcups4me

I told our venue how many vegetarians we had and they made special plates for them and had a few extras just in case someone needed one who I hadn't known about. None of our vegetarians told me they were vegetarians on the response card, but they were friends so I knew. As far as I know, no one else had any dietary restrictions, but I feel confident the venue could have accommodated them if a guest told them they couldn't eat one of the entree choices (filet mignon, chilean sea bass, and the vegetarian).

quotequeen

I have a vegetarian entree choice.  I think this is a requirement if you're having a plated dinner, really.  Anything else, if it's serious and they are unable to eat any of the entree choices, I hope they will let me know, but I am not aware of anybody that applies to.

lharri12

Our guests have the choice between a beef dish, a chicken dish, and a vegetarian dish (portabella mushroom ravioli).  As far as I know, we don't have any guests who are sensitive to gluten, but I certainly could be wrong. 

jenellsrevenge

Any vendor, whether a caterer or hotel, is used to dealing with dietary restrictions. My day job is event planning, and we deal with this all of the time. We always plan for vegetarians and non-pork eaters at all events because you always have atleast one who seems to completely forget to notify us about their dietary restrictions.

trishinbanff

I am Gluten free so I am having a gluten free wedding including my cake!  I have been GF for about 15 years.  I've learned over the years that I bring snacks  and/or a few slices of bread with me and to ask tonnes of questions to the waitstaff.  I don't expect a bride to cater to my gluten freeness.

Julz629

Our hall required us to put "Special dietary needs __________________" on our response cards and they will make special plates for anyone who is vegetarian, has allergies, etc.  At first, I thought this was crazy, but now I am very glad we are able to provide this for our guests.  I have talked to several vegetarians who aren't always able to eat at weddings and I am grateful we can provide them a meal at ours.